Byerley Whippets

About Us

Our origins commenced with a background in Thoroughbred horses, breeding, racing & showing. Peter Griffiths has participated in conformation showing, show jumping, eventing and dressage, and is a qualified dressage and conformation Judge. He is now qualified to judge the Hound Group at Championship level.
Peter More had competed at the top level in this country in athletics as a hurdler, once this career was over he also commenced showing in the horse world, and competing with his Rottweiler in the obedience ring.
We acquired our first whippet, Cliffburn Charlie Girl “Charlie”, in 1994 from Bernadette Kelly. Within 12 months, we had our second, BIS Ch Moonwind Spica “Eden”, from Marilyn Hoy. We were fortunate to have been able to aquire two such well-bred bitches from such strong kennels.
Charlie in her two litters for us produced in 1996 Ch Byerley Christian Dior, who in turn produced SBIS Ch Byerley To ThManor Born. In 1997 BIS & RSBIS Ch Byerley Demeter was whelped, she produced multiple BIS & SBIS winners from a litter that resulted in six Champions, including Ch & US Ch Byerley Savile Row ROMX an American Kennel Club Champion, #1 sire American Whippet Club 2008, # 3 sire in 2009 and attaining his ROMX (Register of Merit Excellent) title.
Eden produced two champions from her first litter, including SBIS Ch Byerley Lacroix a Sydney and Melbourne Royal Challenge winner.
Charlie and Eden , our foundation bitches were both by Ch Airescot Chaconne (Imp Nwy), thus commencing an association with Martinique Kennels, which continues to this day. We are indebted to Martinique Kennels and the advice received from Ian Doherty and Terry Crowley in the discussions of whippets from the past, and with planning matings and our future direction. They imbued us with a strong emphasis on correct type and sound movement.
Each litter is carefully planned over a long period of time, the aim always to improve our stock, producing whippets strong in type, functionality, movement and good sound temperament.

History

Byerley Turk
Dark Brown Colt C. 1679. Imported into England in 1680's

The story of the Byerley Turk begins at the seige of Buda in Hungary in 1688, when Captain Robert Byerley of the Sixth Dragoon Guards under King William III of Orange took a fine brown charger from a captured Turkish officer.
The stallion served as Byerley's war horse when he was dispatched to Ireland in 1689 during King William's War.
The Byerley Turk first entered stud in England, at the family seat at Middridge Grange, County Durham and later stood at Byerley's Goldsborough Hall, near Knaresborough, in Yorkshire.
Breed histories of the Thoroughbred focus on the three foundation sires -- the Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian, and Godolphin Arabian -- who were brought to England in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries and crossed on English and imported mares.

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